A stroke or "brain attack" (just like a heart attack) occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery or a blood vessel breaks, interrupting blood flow to an area of the brain. When either of these things happen, brain cells begin to die and brain damage occurs.

When brain cells are lost during a stroke, functions controlled by that area of the brain are compromised. These abilities include speech, movement, sensation, balance, vision, cognition, memory, etc. The degree how much a stroke patient is affected depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged.

If you think someone may be having a stroke, act F.A.S.T. to remember the warning signs:

BE F.A.S.T (Balance, Eye, Face, Arm, Speech, Time)

Balance
Patient loses balance and falls or get dizzy.
Eye
Complains of vision loss in one eye.
Face
There is a facial drop and asymmetrical smile.
Arms
One arm (or a leg) is weak.
Speech
Slurred speech or the patient does not understand or unable to make sentences
Time
If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately. Time is brain.
Every 1 hr of major artery occlusion equals 7 years of “natural” brain aging.

Information resources recommended:

http://www.stroke.gov